Plus there's the whole concept that we never saw her as herself in life, which implies that being overweight is too awful to show the world.

As I recall, I got the sense from the previous episode where she hinted that she wasn't thin and beautiful that she projected that kind of appearance to manipulate people. I liked that idea -- not that she hated what she looked like, but that she used other people's preconceptions against them.

Last night, though, put pretty much the worst possible spin on it.

Oh, that would be pretty cool, if her power is to absorb dead loved ones. (And...combine their strength with her own? Or something? I suppose the superstrength could be unrelated, but her powers have never really made any sense to me.)

I always figured that the super strength was Jessica's power, but I really wish we would get a clearer explanation of Nikki's powers soon. Considering how much they focused on her last season, I really thought the writers should have been clearer about the powers then.

My take on Candace was the same as Dana's.

Didn't West say that they were living in St. Louis when he was taken?

I missed that but it would make a bit more sense. Or at least make him look less like a plant in Claire's life.

My theory continues to be (and I've seen nothing to contradict it) that Niki/Jessica are one person with a split personality caused by her father's abuse. Nothing powers-y about it. That the strength initially could be tapped only by "Jessica" was a result of her psychosis and nothing more.

That's always been my take on it too, Jon.

something about the way the father talked about Jessica led me to believe they were two separate people, but it's been so long since i've seen it i could be wrong.

oh and i thought it was complete crap that Candace's "true form" showed up when she "died" (quotes because i'm still not positive she's actually dead) too. she was knocked out in the finale last year. why didn't she revert back to that form then too? she would have no control over her powers if she was unconscious.

I thought I remembered seeing Jessica's grave, but I have the same been so long since I've seen it problem as tiggy.

I thought I remembered Jessica's grave too, but am only saying now that amych said it first so I don't look crazy (because I have a bad memory for details).

As for Candace, yeah, I agree with what tiggy said. I thought that the weight thing was either a) a nod to the fans who caught her original comment or b) a way to signal she was "dead" (not sure if the signal was for us or maybe Sylar).

I don't remember a grave, but I do remember their father speaking as if he had two daughters.

Well, could there have been two daughters but one died in such a traumatic event (trauma to both) that the split that developed in Nikki's personality took on the persona of her sister?